5
Taz grabbed her gear and hustled off the Chinook’s rear ramp. Twenty hotshots streamed after her. They dumped their packs in a big mound on the back meadow behind the Visitor Center. The grass had been mowed for a hundred meters around the structure, making it barely boot deep. That would be helpful if the firefight came down to a last-ditch effort.
They rushed back aboard to grab chainsaws, five-gallon cubes of saw gas and water, pumps, firehose, and a couple days of food, creating more piles of presorted gear with the ease of a long summer’s practice. The helo’s three crew chiefs leant a helping hand.
The Chinook was a sweet bonus, being able to bring all of their gear with them. Usually it was limited to what they could carry on the long hike to a fire, backed up with occasional ai
